HLSA Patient Safety Exam Questions with
Verified Correct Answers
Medical error
the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to
achieve an aim
Errors of commission
Doing something wrong
errors of omission
Failing to do the right thing
preventable adverse event
Patient harm that results from a medical error or system design flaw and is avoidable
Ameliorable adverse event
Patient harm whose severity could have been substantially reduced if different actions or
procedures had been performed or followed
Nonpreventable, non-ameliorable adverse events
Patient harm that resulted from a complication that cannot be prevented given the current state
of knowledge
near miss
Medical error or system design flaw that doesn't result in patient harm, but could have
Adverse drug event
an injury resulting from medical intervention related to a drug
Joint commission sentinel event
An unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical injury
Active failures
Verified Correct Answers
Medical error
the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to
achieve an aim
Errors of commission
Doing something wrong
errors of omission
Failing to do the right thing
preventable adverse event
Patient harm that results from a medical error or system design flaw and is avoidable
Ameliorable adverse event
Patient harm whose severity could have been substantially reduced if different actions or
procedures had been performed or followed
Nonpreventable, non-ameliorable adverse events
Patient harm that resulted from a complication that cannot be prevented given the current state
of knowledge
near miss
Medical error or system design flaw that doesn't result in patient harm, but could have
Adverse drug event
an injury resulting from medical intervention related to a drug
Joint commission sentinel event
An unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical injury
Active failures
